The victims were largely young, immigrant women working in the factory. At about 4:45 p.m. — just 15 minutes before closing time — a fire broke out on the 8th floor.

At least 120 of the garment workers were either burned alive or jumped to their deaths from the 8th, 9th and 10th floors of the sweatshop near Washington Square Park. Many of the victims jumped to their deaths after finding fire doors locked and fire escapes leading nowhere.

It was all over in just 30 minutes.

“It’s all about power and greed and irresponsibility,” historian Robin Burson told Diamond. “Society has to pull together to protect people who can’t protect themselves.”

A public art project has been commissioned to memorialize the victims on the site of the deadly fire.